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Mbps (Megabits per second)
– A data transmission speed of one million bits per sec-
ond. Data transmissions are measured in bits (kilobits, megabits etc) per second.
MB (Megabyte)
– 1,048,576 bytes (binary); 1,000,000 bytes (decimal).
NTFS
– The primary file system for Windows 2000 and XP operating system that orga-
nizes files on your computer. Supports large capacity hard drives up to 2 TB.
Operating System (OS)
– Software that controls the assignment and use of hardware
and software resources.
Partition
– A way to logically divide a hard drive so that an operating system treats
each partition as if it were a separate hard drive. Each partition is assigned a unique
drive letter in Windows or icon in the Mac OS.
Peripheral
– A generic term for hard drives, printers, scanners and other discrete
devices that add functionality to a computer.
Port
– A connection which enables compatible devices to send and receive data. A
port can be either hardware-based or software based.
Software
– A set of instructions that enable a computer to perform pre-programmed
functions in the order specified by the user.
Startup Disk
– The disk from which a computer loads its operating system at startup.
Volume
– A fixed amount of storage on a hard drive. The term volume is often used as
a synonym for the drive itself, but it is possible for a single drive to contain more than
one volume or for a volume to span more than one drive.